THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 3, 1995 TAG: 9502030660
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
The Original Admiral became a Portland Pirate Thursday.
Hampton Roads Admirals veteran Dennis McEwen, the only player left from the team's first practice six years ago, was called up by the Portland Pirates in an 11th-hour move that saved Hampton Roads from the embarassing position of placing perhaps the team's most popular player on the sidelines.
The Admirals activated Trevor Halverson, sidelined with an ankle sprain since mid-December. He will play tonight against Knoxville at Scope. He will also serve as captain in McEwen's place.
Halverson is a veteran, and the Admirals already had the league limit of three.
Halverson was scheduled to return Wednesday in a 3-2 victory over Roanoke, but did not play. Apparently, the Admirals could not decide what to do about their overabundance of veterans. Cutting loose Rod Taylor, the team's No. 2 scorer, or defenseman Rob MacInnis is something coach John Brophy said he couldn't afford to do.
That left a choice of putting McEwen on the 30-day injured reserve list or keeping Halverson on injured reserve.
Admirals president Blake Cullen said the Pirates, the Admirals' AHL affiliate, solved his problems by calling Wednesday and asking about about potential replacements for an injured player. He immediately offered McEwen.
``Needless to say, I was surprised and happy,'' McEwen said. ``It's been five years since I was last called up. I'll go up and do my best.''
McEwen played briefly for Baltimore five years ago, and his stint is expected to be brief again.
``He'll probably be back next week,'' Brophy said. ``I don't know what happens when he gets back.''
Brophy said Halverson could solve the Admirals' veterans problem by playing well in the next few weeks. Several IHL and AHL teams have expressed an interest in him.
GOOD BEHAVIOR: ECHL fans have seen a kinder, gentler Brophy most of this season - no heaving sticks onto the ice, no shoving matches with fans and no arrest warrants.
But the Brophy temper flared Tuesday following a 3-2 loss at Charlotte. He took off into the stands after a fan who was yelling at him and had to be restrained by Charlotte police. Assistant coach Al MacIsaac also ran up the steps and grabbed the man, but was shepherded back to the locker room.
Brophy said he promised Cullen before the season that he would be on his best behavior, and he said the promise still stands.
Why did he take off after the fan? ``He was standing up there, shooting his mouth off, saying, `Come on up here, come on up here.' I was arguing with the (clock operator) at the time. I just got tired of listening to him so I did what he was asking me to. I ran up the steps.''
Brophy was led back to the locker room by a Charlotte policeman who later said he's a Brophy fan. He saw Brophy play as a child for the old Charlotte Clippers.
``Brophy had a temper as a player, too,'' he said.
PLAYER MOVE: Forward Colin Gregor, who left the team Wednesday to return home to be with his ailing father, was sold to Birmingham Thursday for an undisclosed fee. Brophy says he expects Gregor will report to Birmingham in the next week or two.
INJURY UPDATE: Center Brendan Curley is virtually certain to return next Thursday when the Admirals host Erie at Scope. ``He skated today and is recovering quickly,'' Burrill said.
Defenseman Ron Pascucci's injured ankle is also responding well to treatment, Burrill said. Pascucci is on the 30-day injured reserve list and isn't eligible to play until late February.
LIKING THE ADMIRALS? Roanoke coach Frank Anzalone spent 20 minutes with his team following Wednesday's loss to the Admirals. Asked what he talked about, Anzalone said he tried to persuade his players to emulate the Admirals work ethic.
``There are a lot of things I don't agree with about Hampton Roads, but one thing I do agree with is their work ethic. . . . Give John Brophy credit. His team always works very hard.'' Anzalone and Brophy aren't what you would call close friends. They argued briefly between periods during at game at Scope last month. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Dennis McEwen
by CNB